The best things in life aren't free

Yes we can, indeed. And if you drank the Obama Kool-aid, there's no need to read further.

I openly acknowledge my high maintenance lifestyle. I consider pedicures and massages to be necessities in my monthly budget. I don't color my own hair or mow my own lawn. I insist on nice hotels, great meals, and fabulous handbags.

In other words, my life ain't cheap.

Luckily, I went to college and despite all the partying, managed to graduate and go on to earn a master's degree. My job is stressful and often it's more than 40 hours a week. But I don't mind because I'm fortunate to have a job I love, and because I am well compensated for thinking about work 24/7.

With a nice salary comes some nice perks, like a nice home and a dependable (albeit recalled) vehicle, cosmetics from a department store counter, and the opportunity to travel. See, I'm obsessed with weekend shopping trips and concerts and nice dinners. I find myself planning months full of weekends to Dallas and Kansas City. Right now I'm saving to buy my nephew a laptop for his high school graduation. I have 20th row tickets to see Bon Jovi in Tulsa next month. I'm headed to Temple twice in April, once for a race and once just because I miss Jen. I'm currently trying to talk Scott and Alisa into Dallas in May to see Jimmy Buffett, and I want to schedule girls' weekend with Sorne, Kelly and Amanda to see SATC2 Memorial Day weekend.

Ruth's Chris for dinner? That's just a Wednesday night for me and my pal Lori B. And in December, Krista and I will be happily ensconced in our Times Square hotel suite in NYC.

If you're going somewhere, I want to go. If a great band is playing, I want to see the concert. I like stuff. I like places. I love spending time with my friends.

But often, I find myself having to stop planning things. Not only do my weekends fill, but I run out of funds. And when you don't have money, you have to stop spending it.

Unless you're Congress. Then you can continue to spend money you don't have on people who don't need it.

See, when I use credit to pay for things, I have to pay it back with interest. Where's my blank check?

But you know what? If someone gave me a beautiful new red patent leather Louis Vuitton bag with the understanding that it was totally free to me, but someday my niece and nephews would have to pay for it, I'd say no. Because I believe in paying for my lifestyle, even if it means doing without.

You listening, Nancy Pelosi?

Let's make plans for July, when I might be solvent again!

White Out

Whew! It's been a crazy week. After getting snowed in and finally making it home, I was stuck in bed all day fighting off a sinus infection. Thankfully I got lots of rest today and I think I'll be back to normal tomorrow.

I had such a fun time on Nebo this week. It was the most gorgeous snow I've ever seen. Enjoy all the pics from the big snow storm.

The Great Mount Nebo Blizzard of '10

I made it safely to Nebo and had a blast watching the Super Bowl. But now I'm snowed in. We just returned from sledding and are now awaiting Alisa's soup and cornbread for lunch.

Hey... if you gotta be stranded, I picked a great place. Plenty of food, beverages, and friends to last for days!

Funkytown

I'm not sure why I'm in such a funk today. It could be the allergies. It could be the three-day weekend. But I've been in a haze all day, not wanting to do anything. Couple that with a trip to the gynecologist this afternoon for my annual check-up, and you've got a fun-filled day.

Labor Day weekend was great. Got to hang out with the supremely cool Jen on Saturday night. Went to Nebo on Sunday and ate some amazing food (Scooter made some scrumptious crawfish po'boys Sunday night). Then I returned to NWA yesterday afternoon in time to dope up on Nyquil and lay around like a slug.

Hopefully tomorrow is better. My eyes itch. My throat hurts. Wish I could lay in bed for a few days. For now, I'm taking Nyquil and going to bed at 8 p.m.

Happy, happy day!

So excited about the start of football season! I had nearly given up on the 'Boys last night, but they managed to pull out the win. I'm afraid it's going to be another long season, Dallas fans.

In a few I'm headed south to pick up Chance and Hope (and maybe Taylor, if he's really, really bored) and go hang out with Jen, Lon, and Huey, Dewie and Louie. I'll spend tonight with Peep and Meem, and that's always interesting. Their house is like a zoo when we're all there. It's Beaver's birthday, so we're headed to his party at 2 p.m.

Tomorrow I'll be on Nebo with Scott, Alisa, and Grey. Not sure what we're doing since all our best laid plans got either rescheduled or are tentative due to weather. Nevertheless, I haven't seen them in months and can't wait to just chill and eat.

Have a great Labor Day weekend, everyone!

Late night gumbo

Wow... it seems like years since my last post. Probably not for all of you, but for me, because I've been all over the state since Tuesday.

I'm exhausted from staying up 'til at least midnight four nights in a row, but I've had a fabulous five days, hanging out with some great new friends and getting to see some great old friends as well.

I won't bore you with too many details about my trip to the state capitol since some of it was dull and some of it not fit to print, but it was memorable both personally and professionally. I got the chance to tour the Clinton library for the first time, and after witnessing my second legislative session ever, I have less confidence in my state government than before. Somebody with a clue please run for office.

Here are some pics of two of my favorite new friends, Terri and Tony (and yes, I have more chins than a Chinese phone book in that second pic... what's up with that?)





Thankfully Schluter was also in the Rock on Thursday, so we got to hang out at the Supreme Court for a bit and then got to visit because we skipped out on the committee meeting we were supposed to attend.

On Friday I got to see my good pals Alisa and Shauna at Tech, as well as my great love, Feltner's Whattaburger.

My friend Paige's husband Bryan made me french toast yesterday morning and we happily ate it while watching Paige do tae bo in the living room. I then had a very rough day of getting a massage, a pedicure, eating cheese dip from Stoby's, going to see Alisa, Grey and Scott at Mount Nebo, and then taking a nap.

Last night I emceed the Miss Lake Dardanelle pageant, after which we went back to Paige and Bryan's and stayed up talking until 3 a.m.

Now I need to be catching up on work because I was gone for three days, but I don't wanna.

Oh, and congratulations to the Hackett Hornets, who won their conference tournament last night 50-29. Taylor et al will be playing in the regional tournament in Danville next week.

Mountain party

Yesterday Scott and Alisa hosted a party on Nebo for Mike and Shauna, Thomas and Amy, and me (plus everyones' kids). Scooter made some fantastic gumbo and we sat out by the fire and talked. It was so much fun!

Isn't Madison precious?!?



Scott and Alisa



Preston, Madison and Joe

Under pressure

Well I suppose today was a bit better than yesterday considering nobody tried to put any body part in a vice, but it was still filled with a lot of pressure. The metaphoric kind, not the literal kind.

So I had a stinky morning and came home for lunch to feel sorry for myself. It was tough considering I'm on day two of my 48-hour fruit fast, but alas, I did not succumb to chocolate. I did, however, succumb to a long talk with God, during which He told me to get over myself. (That's just how God rolls, I'm convinced. I don't think He always talks to us in KJV lingo.)

My afternoon was much better. Less talking, more action. But also more meetings.

Tonight I'm doing laundry, ironing and packing to hit the road again. I'm relying on the hospitality of friends for the next four nights. Tomorrow I have LBC, then speaking at a board meeting, then back to LBC in the afternoon. Tomorrow night I'm driving to the Fort for a Chamber dinner with Ashley. I'll be crashing at Vance and Sorne's.

On Friday I'm driving to the Rock to have lunch with Ann, then Brent and I are going to Cold Stone to celebrate his natal anniversary. That night Joe's meeting Estella and I for dinner, and we'll be getting up early on Saturday to walk in the Race for the Cure in Little Rock. I've always wanted to do the Race and never have. I hear it's indescribable and I'm very excited.

Saturday afternoon/night I'll be driving to Nebo to stay with Scott and Alisa. On Sunday afternoon my ol' Tech friends are coming up for gumbo and good times. Then, late Sunday evening, I'll be driving to Rogers to stay with Kelly so that I can be at a 7 a.m. meeting on Monday.

Good grief. When did my life become so crazy? But I love it. And I'm grateful to have good friends (with spare bedrooms) to share it all with.

Happy birthday, Scott!

Birthday wishes to my cousin, Scott, who turns 36 today. He was lucky enough to be born near me both geographically and chronologically, so we were in the same class for 13 years. I found this pic the other day of us. What I want to know is (a) when was my stomach ever that flat? (b) why did my mother let me wear than unfortunate outfit? (c) what's with Scott's pants being unbuttoned? and (d) is that the ugliest carpet you've ever seen or what?

Anyway, happy birthday! And happy anniversary to you and your beautiful wife, Shannon!

Perfect weather, perfect friends

It's been a very long day and I'm tired, so I don't have much to say tonight. I do want to report, however, that my weekend at Nebo was about as perfect as it could have been. I don't get to see my Tech friends as much as I'd like, but it's great to know that I've been gone for over eight years and we still hang out and visit and have a great time, no matter how much time has passed.

Scott and Alisa put out quite the spread all weekend, making homemade sushi for dinner on Saturday night, and hosting a shrimp boil for my birthday last night. Thomas and Amy and Mike and Shauna were able to join us with their families, and we had a fabulous time. The weather was perfect, the food amazing, and the company was flawless.

Everyone's kids are growing way too fast, and this is the first time I've ever seen Madison, who is one of the cutest little girls ever. I'll write more tomorrow about the weekend, but for now, please watch the video of the party.

Thanks for a great time!

Happy birthday to me

I am in official birthday countdown mode (it's a mere five hours for those of you who still need to overnight my presents).

I love any day when others realize that the world revolves around me. All kidding aside, I don't need presents. I just demand that everyone acknowledge my natal anniversary. I've already gotten five birthday cards (thank you Granny, Memaw Kat, Estella, Paige and Kelly), and that makes me so happy.

Tomorrow three guys from work are taking me to lunch. Granted, I dropped hints for about a week to get a lunch invite, but still... there will be frivolity and hopefully some singing. Then Dad and Vickie are meeting me in Fayetteville for dinner. This weekend I'm headed up to Mount Nebo to spend a couple of nights with Scott and Alisa, so I'm managing to stretch this birthday into several days.

Only 366 more days 'til the next one.

Texas-bound boys

I've mentioned before that my two favorite cousins, Scott and Lonnie, married well above themselves. The beautiful and talented Shannon took some great pics of Jen's family this past weekend. Feel free to check them out. Huey, Dewie and Louie have never looked so handsome (or so well behaved)!